NHTSA complaint: 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA — AIR BAGS
DATE 10/20/2007 THIS SATURDAY MORNING AT 9:05 AM, AFTER MASS AT THE MIAMI ARCHDIOCESES, I HAD A MOST UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE WITH MY 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHEN I MOVED TO REVERSE MY CAR FROM MY PARKING PLACE, I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN DRAMATIC INCREASE FROM THE CAR'S IDLE AND A RELEASE OF THE ACCELERATION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MOVE BACKWARD VERY FAST. I IMMEDIATELY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, BUT DID NOT STOP AND THEN, IN A FEW SECONDS TO FORWARD TO AVOID HITTING ANY PERSONS OR VEHICLES IN MY BACK IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT. IN TOTAL ABOUT 45 FEET BACKWARD AND FORWARD, PERHAPS 30 SECONDS PLUS IN TOTAL . I THEN CRASHED ON THE WALL OF ST. MARTHA RECTORY. THE CAR WAS UNCONTROLLABLE AND THE FRONT OF MY CAR'S HOOD, FRONT DOORS WERE BADLY DAMAGED, (ESPECIALLY THE RIGHT SIDE, WHERE MY SICK WIFE SAT ) DAMAGES WITH A PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE OF $ 5864. I HAVE TWO CONCERNS: A) SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN CAR IS STARTED AND INABILITY TO STOP IT . B) NO AIR BAG SYSTEM DEPLOYMENT IN SPITE OF THE STRENGTH OF THE IMPACT AND HAVING THE ENTIRE FRONT BUMPER OF THE CAR DESTROYED. 2) I HAVE LOST MY TRUST IN MY PRESENT TOYOTA COROLLA CAR (I HAVE HAD ONE BEFORE AND A CAMRY, AND THEIR PERFORMANCE WAS SATISFACTORY). I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A VERY CAREFUL INSPECTION OF OUR VEHICLE, ITS CAPACITY FOR SUDDEN UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION, LACK OF AIR BAG PROTECTION, AND THE LIKE. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation